Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), awarded $570,000 to The Johns Hopkins University on May 1, 2026, for a three-year project through April 30, 2029. Principal Investigator Timothy H. Warren will develop innovative copper-catalyzed methods for sp3 carbon-hydrogen (C-H) functionalization, enabling the selective transformation of normally unreactive C-H bonds into carbon-nitrogen, carbon-oxygen, carbon-sulfur, and carbon-carbon bonds. The research will establish catalytic protocols using copper-based radical relay approaches and copper nitrene-based methods to facilitate C-H arylation, alkylation, vinylation, and amination reactions with broad synthetic applicability. Mechanistic studies of reactive copper intermediates will inform the development of more efficient and environmentally sustainable chemical synthesis methods.

Beyond the core research deliverables, the project incorporates significant educational and workforce development components aligned with National Science Foundation priorities. The award supports hands-on training for high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students through collaborations with industrial and academic partners. Outreach activities including science festivals and mentorship programs are designed to engage and inspire the next generation of scientists. The research outcomes will streamline synthesis of complex molecules relevant to pharmaceutical and materials industries while providing access to previously difficult-to-reach areas of chemical space through more efficient and cost-effective synthetic approaches.